As we’ve camped there are some things that make us say again and again, “I’m glad we got that”. Here is a summary of the gear we are most glad to have.
Shelter
Our first family camping trip was fun, except for bedtime. After that trip we decided we needed a three room tent so that the two kids could each have their own room in which to fall asleep without being provoked by the other.
The Core 12 Person Instant Cabin Tent fit the bill. Not only does it have three rooms, but it goes up and tears down easily, it is well ventilated, it is sturdy, and I can stand up in it.
Bedding
A good night’s sleep makes a big difference.
Exped MegaMat Duo 10
The piece of our sleeping kit we are are most pleased with and have most often recommended is our Exped MegaMat Duo 10. It’s comfortable, it packs well, it insulates you from the ground. It takes a beating. This bed prompted us to buy a new mattress for our home, because we slept better on this in our tent than we did on the mattress in our bedroom. You want one.
Camp Pillow
When we had our smaller car, we all used Mountain Summit Gear, Self-inflating Camp Pillows. Now that we have a mini van two of us prefer our pillows from home. But this pillow is good enough that two of us (including myself) still take it along. I like the cup in the middle that cradles either the ear or the back of the head. I like that the height of the pillow is air adjustable.
Lighting
We have been very pleased with all our MPOWERD lights.We have both their string lights (pictured) as well as their inflatable Luci Candle
Eating
Cooking
After looking at a number of camp stoves, we settled on the BioLite CampStove 2 Bundle. I like that the fire is a “real” fire not just a flame, that I don’t have to worry about running out of fuel, and that I can boil water over a handful of sticks. Note: don’t count on this to charge your phone, yes it can, but in my experience there is not a lot of extra power generated while cooking.
For cooking over an open fire a cast iron pie iron can’t be beat. We have liked the ones we have by Rome (single, double). Just be sure to follow seasoning directions prior to use.
When selecting a hotdog/marshmallow/everything else fork, I recommend those with tines pointing back toward the handle (an example would be these).
Dishes
We were so pleased with our Wealers Reusable Dishes Set we purchased a second. They are compact. They have what we need. Some find them small; we like that they are kid friendly. The forks are not great at stabbing, but they won’t scratch the plates. They wash up great in a campground sink or in the dishwasher when we get home.
Water Storage
For water storage, we have been pleased with this set. A gallon has enough capacity to not immediately overflow when filling from a gushing camp spigot, but is not so heavy that our kids can’t move it. The bags only take up the volume you store in them. If you want a half gallon of spare water in your bike bag for a ride, these can do that.
Sitting
We really like our ALPS Mountaineering Tri-Leg Stools. It is possible to pick up nine of them at once. They are readily moved when the smoke comes your way. They have no arms which makes them guitar friendly.
Clothing
Footwear
Want a lightweight, durable sandal? Xero has lots of options. My wife likes the Z-Trail. I prefer the thinner sole of the Z-Trek.
If you are looking for a lightweight, waterproof hiking boot, both my wife and I enjoy Xero’s Xcursion (men’s/women’s).
And if a shoe is on our son’s foot, it is the Xero Kid’s Prio.
Sunwear
For a comfortable, protecting, great looking hat, check out hats by Sunday Afternoon
